“Heavens! Uncle August, you are driving me mad! Explain! explain! I _cannot_ bear these enigmas!” cried the poor fellow, springing to his feet in a fearful state of agitation, while a cold perspiration started out all over his face. Mr. Huntress gently forced him back into his chair and began at once to tell him all that had occurred, from the moment of the departure of the bridal party from the church, up to the present hour. Geoffrey sat throughout the fearful recital as if he had suddenly been turned to stone, and when at last it was concluded, there were several moments of dreadful silence. He seemed paralyzed, mentally and physically, by the blighting affliction which had overtaken him, and by the bold daring of the enemy who had thus ruined his dearest hopes. Agony, however, at last broke the spell. He arose, and stood pale and stern before his uncle. “Where is he?” he demanded, in an awful voice, although it was barely audible, “where is that treacherous villain who has robbed me of my wife and broken her heart? Tell me, for there must be a terrible settlement between him and me. Where is Everet Mapleson, Uncle August?” “_Here!_” responded a defiant voice close beside them, and, wheeling suddenly about at the sound, Geoffrey saw his rival standing between the parted draperies that separated the alcove from the main hall. “I am here to answer for myself,” he continued, in the same tone, while he looked as pale and resolute as Geoffrey himself, “but first I demand tidings of my—_wife_.” That word was like a blow to Geoffrey, who staggered back with a groan of anguish. But he quickly rallied. “She is _not_ your wife!” he said, fiercely; “a farce—an act of fraud, could never make her such.” “You are a trifle premature in your statement,” retorted young Mapleson, with a sneer. “I do not deny that my purpose was accomplished by something of strategy, but it _was accomplished_, notwithstanding—Gladys Huntress was married to me to-night, and it is simply useless to contest the fact.” “You may have gone through the marriage service with her; but you personated me, and it was only a mock ceremony. Besides, there were certain preliminaries to be attended to—your intentions made known—your certificate to be properly filled; without these there could have been no legal marriage,” Geoffrey returned, sternly. Everet Mapleson smiled superciliously. “All that you mention was most carefully attended to, sir,” he said, with an air of triumph that was simply maddening to his listeners. “The clergyman was duly apprised of my intentions, and received a handsome fee, fifteen minutes before the arrival of the bridal party at the church; the ring had been purchased and carefully marked and now adorns the hand of the bride. Not a single detail has been omitted, I assure you, to make my position and my claim secure.”